California Car Registration Renewal

Californians must renew their vehicles' registration
annually, as required by the CA Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Registration fees provide funding for such things as the building and upkeep of streets and highways, the California Highway Patrol, and local county departments.

New to CA?

The following is for renewing your registration only. If you just moved to California and need to register your car, truck, or motorcycle, check out our California
car registrations page.

Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice

The CA DMV will send you a renewal notice well in advance of your registration's expiration date. The notice will include:

Delinquency fees:
―You must pay all delinquency or ticket fees listed on your renewal notice before renewing your registration.
―You will only be allowed to renew by mail or in-person if you owe any extra fees.

Didn't Receive a CA Car Renewal Notice?

If you did not receive a renewal notice in the mail, either contact your local
DMV office or call (800) 777-0133.

NOTE: Even if you don't receive a notice, you are still obligated to register on time.

Delinquency fees, such as unpaid parking tickets, must be resolved before you can renew.

Late Fees and Penalties

The CA DMV does not offer any grace period for late renewals. If you miss the deadline, you will be subject to three types of
late fees:

A percentage of your standard renewal.

A flat late fee.

A flat California Highway Patrol (CHP) late fee.

Late fees are charged in addition to your regular renewal cost. These fees increase over time, getting more expensive the longer you delay.

Tax Deductions

After renewing your registration, you may be eligible for a tax deduction on your vehicle license fee.

Emissions and Smog Testing

Your renewal notice will indicate if you need an emissions test.

For additional information on exemptions, testing fees, locations, and what to do if your vehicle fails the test, visit our
CA Smog Test Section.

Liability Insurance Requirements

All vehicles must carry, at the very least, the following minimum amounts of
liability insurance coverage:

$15,000 for injury/death to one person.

$30,000 for injury/death to more than one person.

$5,000 for damage to property.

You cannot renew your registration without proof of car insurance protection. Allowing your coverage to lapse for a period of
45 days or more may result in the suspension of your registration. In addition, your vehicle may be impounded if you get pulled over without proof of insurance.

Military Registration Renewal

If your vehicle's CA registration is expiring soon and you are deployed as a member of the armed services, you may be eligible to delay payment until you return.

To be eligible, you must:

Be a member of the Armed Forces, Armed Forces Reserve, or National Guard.

Be temporarily deployed outside the state and engaged in combat or homeland defense purposes.

Not be deployed solely for training, processing, or permanent change of station purposes.

Be only applying to have the fees that you incurred during your time of deployment waived.

Non-Operational Vehicles

If you received a renewal notice for a vehicle that you do not plan on operating (e.g. drive, park, store, or have towed) on public roads for the entire registration year, you may apply for Planned Non-Operation (PNO) status to avoid paying renewal fees.

Apply for Planned Non-Operation Status

To apply for PNO status, you must do so either:

On or before the day your registration expires

OR

Apply up to 90 days after your registration expires and pay all accrued late fees (see above)

To apply, either mark the designated PNO box on your renewal notice. Or: